Cordulephya pygmaea - Common Shutwing

Male identification: A very small dragonfly that characteristically perches with its wings closed over the abdomen, which is relatively thin, slightly pinched at the base and with a series of evenly spaced broad yellow rings. Eyes are grey-green with a dark vertical stripe. Thorax is dark above with two large yellow patches on the side. All dark face and yellow labrum.

Female identification: Very similar to male

Similar species: Unlike any other dragonfly.

Behaviour: Spends a lot of time perched on timber at the edge of rivers. Also likely to be found perched at head height or above on vertical surfaces such as trees or rocks, sometimes some distance from the river bank. Periodically conducts sorties across the river flying close to the water or may fly high and up into tree tops. A particularly late emerging species.

Distribution: May be commonly overlooked. Records from known locations along the Yarra River gorge in Melbourne, all below 200m altitude.

Australian State distribution (from CSIRO Entomology)

Habitat: Deep slow flowing rivers with woody vegetation at the banks.

Status: Common and localised

Flight period: February to April